Early goals prove decisive as Dubs derail Roscommon's final hopes

When an exquisite move culminated in a glorious Roscommon point by Niall Kilroy after only 35 seconds, early portents looked good for the massive Primrose and Blue support in the estimated 6,000 attendance at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday evening last, for this All-Ireland U21 FC semi-final. Alas, it all went horribly wrong, as an early blitz from Leinster champions Dublin yielded 2-2 by the time the fifth minute was reached at the Cavan venue. The horror show, from a Roscommon viewpoint, started when a speculative ball from Dublin midfielder Cian Mullins caused confusion between full-back Neil Collins and goalkeeper Darren O'Malley, the result being that wing-forward David Quinn (Lucan Sarsfields) took optimum advantage to find the net. It went from bad to worse for Jimmy Gacquin's young charges as, almost from the kick-out, corner-forward Barry O'Rorke pointed from play. If the cup of woe was reaching saturation point for shellshocked Roscommon fans at such an early stage of play, it certainly overflowed in the fourth minute when Dublin centre-forward Ted Furman was fouled by corner-back Paul O'Grady - inside the area, ruled Down referee Ciaran Branagan, not the first controversial decision he would make in this semi-final. Up stepped Dean Rock, son of the legendary Barney, and he clinically converted the spot kick. This was rapidly followed by Dublin's second point when Quinn placed Ciaran Dorney (goalscorer against Westmeath in the Leinster final), who duly obliged to leave the Sky Blues astoundingly ahead on the scoreboard by 2-2 to 0-1, before many spectators had settled into their places for the evening penultimate clash. The small band of Dublin faithful who had made their way down the N3 to the plush Breffni venue (seriously outnumbered by as much as 8 to 1 by the Roscommon support) were certainly enjoying themselves and, at the early stage, were already looking forward to their first All-Ireland final appearance since 2003, when they beat Tyrone to capture the Clarke Cup for the first time. Roscommon still had 55 minutes of play to rescue what was far from an impossible situation, though certainly an intimidating one, on an evening when the wind had little influence. If Roscommon were to remain in contention to reach their first national decider in the grade since losing to Donegal back in 1982, Jimmy Gacquin's men had to immediately set about reducing these early arrears. Roscommon made only one change in personal from the team which defeated Sligo in the Connacht Final two weeks earlier. Corner-back Jack Sharkey (injured) was replaced by Paul O'Grady, while Dublin started a new midfield pairing, with Sean Murray and Cian Mullins preferred to James McCarthy (now at centre-back) and Mark Coughlan, who lined out against the Lake County in the Leinster final. It was, consequently a very happy Manager Jim Gavin who oversaw his charges barnstorm into that seven-point advantage, before hardly rising a sweat. He wasn't to know it then, but 25 minutes would elapse beneath the (volcanic dust-free) Cavan sky before they would raise another flag. Hard working Roscommon wing-forward Paul Garvey (Kilmore) tried to ignite his colleagues following that Dublin blitzkrieg, but his sixth minute effort drifted wide before having a shot put out by goalkeeper Vincent Whelan for a fruitless '45'. It was clearly evident from his point that Roscommon, though launching some encouraging attacking forays, were having to work assiduously to break down a close marking Dublin rearguard. A pointed free by Donal Shine (after the Clann and DCU marksman was fouled himself) started the comeback on 14 minutes but, worryingly, their wide-count was increasing while, noticeably, three yellow cards were dished out to two Dublin defenders and the deep playing Ciaran Dorney, listed at corner-forward. Roscommon Paul Garvey was also shown yellow by referee Ciaran Branagan, who was becoming an increasingly central figure for all the wrong reasons, while goal-scorer against Sligo, Alan O'Hara was introduced in the 20th minute for off-form Cathal Shine. Midfielder Niall Carty and Kevin Higgins, who had gained the ascendancy in this vital sector, now took a hand in the scoring stakes. Padraig Pearses star Carty completed a movement also involving Donal Shine and the just introduced O'Hara to drill over a 20th minute point, but two scorable efforts were frittered away before Higgins (27th minute) then showed the way when placed by Carty to left over a third unanswered point. Having game 25 minutes without a score, Dublin attacking wing-back Nicky Devereux soled upfield to point on the run nearing half-time, but Roscommon supporters were rightly furious when the already booked Dorney felled wing-back Eamon Bannon which certainly merited a second yellow, but referee Branagan failed to take any action which earned him a chorus of boos from irate Rossies at the interval. Half time: Dublin 2-3 Roscommon 0-4. Dublin's management team made a significant double substitution at half-time, replacing Dorney and previously yellow-carded centre-back James McCarthy with Jonathan McDermott and Mark Coughlan. Three minutes into the second moiety, they made what would turn out to be a master stroke when the subsequently outstanding Robert McCarthy (wearing number 25 and not listed on the programme) came on. Another costly trio of Roscommon wides would be registered by their attack and we had to wait 12 scoreless minutes before a superb long-range Donal Shine effort sailed over the bar. Donal was again involved a minute later, in the lead up a lovely Darren McDermott point, which cut the margin to just three points with the game now entering the last quarter of play. Dublin had just been reduced to 14 players when centre-forward Ted Furman was red-carded for a rugby style tackle, one of many which the referee had failed to stamp out earlier in this clash and which undoubtedly had contributed to the subsequent pulling and dragging and free riddled play on view to spectators forced to shell out €20 admission fee to the game. With the score standing at 2-3 to 0-6 in Dublin's favour and the Metropolitans now a man short, it seemed the time for a Roscommon winning rally was ripe, but it wasn't to be. Making light of their numerical disadvantage, the Dubs decisively re-established control. Five unanswered points ensued per wing-forward Gary Sweeney, super-sub Robert McCarthy (2), midfielder Cian Mullins and a Dean Rock free (foul on Sweeney), before a Donal Shine (foul on Alan O'Hara) broke the Dublin dominance. However, with Roscommon supporters now heading for the exits, Dublin weren't finished yet. McCarthy added his third point from play and, following an Alan O'Hara special well saved by Dublin keeper Whelan, Dean Rock completed the Sky Blues scoring with his 57th minute point. Donal Shine (free) had his fourth point of the evening a minute from time, but at this stage the result was beyond doubt. And so, its a Dublin v Donegal All-Ireland Final (the Tir Conaill men easily beat Tipperary by 0-12 to 0-4 in the other semi-final). That scintillating start certainly was hugely beneficial to the Leinster champions who, though pressed strongly in the third quarter, never lost the lead before racing away convincingly as the winning post came into sight. In a physically strong outfit, goalie Whelan, defenders Rory O'Carroll, John Cooper and Nicky Devereux, midfielder Cian Mullins, with forwards Dean Rock, Gary Sweeney and super-sub Robert McCarthy were best. For a gallant Roscommon team, who took their sixth Connacht title in recent weeks, special praise also to the management team of Jimmy Gacquin, Nigel Dineen, Peter Bolger and Shane Curran. Although that Dublin start left then playing catch up for much of subsequent play in Saturday's semi-final, they were often frustrated by some annoying and debatable refereeing calls. They also lacked physicality against strong opposition in some positions, but James McKeague, Niall Daly, Eamon Bannon, Niall Carty, Kevin Higgins, Paul Garvey, Donal Shine and Darren McDermott impressed at various stages of the hour. DUBLIN: Vincent Whelan, Eoin Culligan, Rory O'Carroll, Darragh Nelson, John Cooper (capt.), James McCarthy, Nicky Devereux (0-1), Sean Murray, Cian Mullins (0-1), David Quinn (1-0), Ted Furman, Gary Sweeney (0-1), Barry O'Rorke (0-1), Dean Rock (1-2, 1-0pen, 0-1f), Ciaran Dorney (0-1). SUBS: Jonathan McDermott and Mark Coughlan for McCarthy and Dorney (H-T), Robert McCarthy (0-3) for O'Rourke (33), Ciaran Reddin for Quinn (57), Niall Brogan for Devereux (60). ROSCOMMON: Darren O'Malley, Paul O'Grady, Neil Collins (capt.), Michael Higgins, James McKeague, Niall Daly, Eamon Bannon, Niall Carty (0-1), Kevin Higgins (0-1), Paul Garvey, Cathal Shine, Brian Murtagh, Niall Kilroy (0-1), Donal Shine (0-4, 3f), Darren McDermott (0-1). SUBS: Alan O'Hara for Cathal Shine (20), Eamon Kenny for Murtagh (44), Eoin Sheehy for Collins (52), Leon O'Connor for Garvey (58). REFEREE: Ciaran Branagan (Down), who issued a total of 11 yellow cards and one red card.